One of my very favourite fairy tales is Beauty and the Beast. The story has always appealed to me because it breaks out of the traditional roles in that Princess, for once, rescues the Prince. It is believed that one of roots of this tale come from the myth of Cupid and Pysche, and reading both there are definitely similar themes.
The first version of the modern ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was written by Madame Gabrielle de Villeneuve for her circle of friends in the French Salons of the mid 1700s. An adaption by Madame Le Prince de Beaumont was published 16 years later and is closer to how we know the tale today, though both are beautiful reads. You can find the Andrew Lang version, a combination of the above two here.
I think what I love about this story, is the mood of the tale and the setting itself. The splendid Palace with it’s invisible servants (which in some ways sounds like Versailles!) the curse under which the Prince is placed, and Beauty’s courage and self sacrifice. I think her struggle reflects a dilemma we often face, that sometimes the illusions of surface beauty are far more attractive than the beast, and seeing what’s underneath, the real inner beauty of a person takes great strength and compassion. I think Beauty is a great role model in this aspect.
Dear Beauty, try not to regret all you have left behind you, for you are destined to a better fate. Only do not let yourself be deceived by appearances.
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I love the story of Beauty and the Beast and all similar tellings. Beauty has to see beyond what the Beast is and the Beast conversely has to have a lot of trust in Beauty. It’s really one of the few fairy tales in which I feel a real exchange in the relationship. I’ve only read one novel based off this story, which was “Beast.” It’s pretty good, but there were some story telling choices I didn’t agree with (mostly wording and style than the story itself), but it makes for a decent read.
Similar tellings are Hans my Hedgehog (I know you know that one!) and East of the Sun, West of the Moon. I highly recommend the later as well as the novel based on it called “East.”
Between Beauty and the Beast and the Little Mermaid, I can’t choose which fairy tale is my favorite.
I love the painting you’ve chosen for this entry. It’s beautiful, it makes me think how young most fairy tale heroines were intended to be. Hughes’s beauty doesn’t look much older than sixteen…
When I was younger I don’t think I cared much either way for this story, but now I think Beauty is such a beautiful figure. She is responsible and compassionate, and learns to love despite appearances. She’s such a strong girl. I think she’s the most admirable of all the fairy tale princesses. ^^